Non-sinkable ship.



, R. w. VAIL; NON-SINKABLE SHIP.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE i3. 191?.

Patented Aug. 6, 1918.

5 SHEETS -SHEET 1- w I *a R. W. V A|L. NON-SINKABLE SHIP.

APPLICATION FI LED JUNE I3. I917.

Patented Aug. 6, 1918.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Il-J INVENTOR W A TTOR/VEY R. W. VAIL.

NON-SINKABLE SHIP.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE l3. I917.

' 1 #374 82 1 Patented Aug. 6, 1918..

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

4 TTORNEY 'R. W. VAIL.

NON-4SINKABLE SHIP. YAPPLICATION FILED JUNE 13. m

1,274,821. Patented Aug. 6, 1918,

5 SHEETSSHEET 4- 78::- 70 a :9 5 v r a Q A TTORNEY R. W. VAlL.

NON-SINKABLE SHIP.

APPLICATION FILED JUNK-I13. 1911.

1,274,821. I Patented Aug. 6, 1918.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

INVENTOR l wjiin wv,

flaw" ROBERT W. VAIL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

NON-SINKALBLE SHIP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 6, 1918.

Application filed June 13, 1917. Serial No. 174,488.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that ll, ROBERT W. VAIL', a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented a new and useful N on-Sinkable Ship, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has for its object a ship having the ordinary type of hull within which are attached certain arrangements, through which, if the ship is torpedoed rending a hole or holes in itshull above, at or below the water line, the'amount of sea water allowed to enter through same will be limited, by these arrangements, to an amount not sufficient to tend to sink the ship or toendanger the ship in any way or to prevent her further passage to her destination.

It is a further object ofmy invention that these internal ship arrangements which constitute my invention (in correlation with the ships hull, shall be designed to be easily removable and replaceable so that, if torpe doed and perforated they'may be easily and quickly replaced upon arrival at port or may be repaired at sea. This object, the possible removal of the new internal parts of ship, without injury to hull, saves the valuable hulls for further use, with internal arrange ments changed to normal conditions, after the war.

The primary object of this nonsinkability by said internal arrangements is the transoceanic safeconduct of food, clothing and other useful articles as shall be allowed to be delivered by the United States Government to foreign peoples and the safeconduct of the ship itself. A still further object of my invention is the protection of cargo against wetting and injury by sea water, if ship is torpedoed, tearing hole or holes in hull, and sea enters through said apertures and within the interior of hull of ship.

I attain the objects of my invention by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a vertical section on a longitudinal median line'through a ship equipped with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a similar section with further parts of the invention shown in elevation;

Fig. 3 is'a section on a line in front of bulkhead 31;

Fig. 4 is a section on a line in the rear of this bulkhead and through the revoluble drum 4:9, and showing cargo-carrying drum 51 in elevation;

Fig. 5 is a transverse section in front of the engine room;

Fig. 6 is a transverse section through the engine room;

Fig. 7 is a top the deck removed;

Fig. 8 is a horizontal longitudinal section partly in elevation of a ship equipped with my invention;

Fig. 9 is an end view of one of the revoluble cylinders; I

Fig. 10 is a detail view of one of the metallic plates for bracing the engine room;

Fig. 11 is a vertical transverse section through the ship showing a modified form of the protecting frame of the engine room in elevation g Fig. 12 is a diagrammatic view of the ship, illustrating the correct proportions of the apparatus as applied to such a vessel asthe Transylvania, illustrating the use to'whioh the invention is put;

Fig. 13 is a detail end elevation of the water-tight bulkheads;

Fig. 14 is a general side elevation of a boat showing the means for steering the same and the propelling means;

Fig. 15 is a detail of the means of preplan of the invention with venting the shifting of the water-tight bulkheads aforesaid;

Fig. 16 is afragmentary top view of the capstan whereby the water-tight exterior drums are rotated in an emergency; and

Fig. 17 is a longitudinal vertical section of the cargo carrying drum showing the watertight doors.

Like characters of reference designate like parts throughout the several views,

Referring to the accompanying drawings illustrating my invention:

1, designates the keel 0f the ship; 3, the stern post; 4, the outer hull; 5, the inner hull; 8, the deck of the ship; 9, structural steel bracingfor the outer hull; '10,'structural steel bracing for the inner hull; 11, deck supporting girders, and 6, sealed air compartments between the inner and outer hulls. The parts above enumerated mayconform to the usual shipbuilding ractice.

Sleeping quarters, 14 and 15 for t e crew may be arranged at any suitable portions of the ship. Watertight walls 12 and 13 are provided between 'sleeping'quarters 14 and 15 respectively, .and .the rest of the interior of the ship.

I provide weight-sustaining segments 16 and 17 of a ring of structural steel,-di.vi'ded into equal parts as at 18. Ring 16 is attached to the bracing 10 of the inner hull by any suitable fastening members 19, as shown in Fig. 8. :Upperiiingsection 17 is removable but is secured in place by theapproximately U-shaped structural part 22, which is fastened at23tomember l7,.and at26 to member 25, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4:.

.I provide novel revoluble cylinders 49, which are suitably reinforced and arewatertight, .and which revolve .on .the horizontal axes providedby the stationary trunnions.35, being mounted thereonby means of bearing ring 50. Member 40 is a stationary shaft upon *which is mounted 'the sleeve 39, to which in turn ;is mounted the .radially disposed structural bracing 42, which is suitably ,pinned or ,keyed to shaft 4Q, and member 4.2 in turn supports cylinders 35. Member .is a structural bracing .member which reinforces the watertight .-stationary drum 51 whichcarries thecargo, and which is further protected by .the outer stationary cylinder .52. a7 .is a watertight Protective disk attached to member 35, as shovvnin -Fi g. 13. Member .81 is a stationary protective .wall, having brace portions 32, secured to .frame 30.

,Member 60 operates to relieve the torsion strain caused by the weightof-cargo within drum 51.

Referring to Fig. 2, 1 provide suit-able grooved rings 64 whichare fitted over and secured to revoluble cylinder 49,. Suitable cables 68 encircleringG't, and are secured to the rings at knobs 70. These cables 68 provide aameans for revolving the cylinders 60 either by power from the enginesorby hand power byaneansof-a suitable capstan 4:02.

Referringto Fig. 1,77 designates a cylin der forming an encircling Wall of the en- ;gine :room, Which may be :disposed in any suitable portion of the ship, as correctly illustrated in Fig. 11. I provide .four 'or .more supporting plates 71, positioned lengthwiseof'the ship, parallel to each other,

:and at fright angles to the structural ship braces 10, on Which @they rest, as shown in -Fug. 16. EPlates 71 are provided with slots 74 till their :lower portion, .and with .a large ;:a,pertured ,portion 72, as illustrated in. Fig. 10. These plates serve as bracing members for :the entire engine room.

:Members 7 8 arestationary disks'attached "to cylinder :77. It is within the contemplation of imy invention to also provide when desired spherical segments 79 ;as shown :in Figs. 5;and-I6,1as an outer protective wall for itheiengine room. Members/7Y9engage shafts =83.

Cast [on circular segments "79 I :provide The subject matter of Figs. 5 and 11 are identical except that in Fig. 5 the revoluble walls of the engine room are segments of a sphere, while in Fig. 11 a cylindrical ffOLll'l ofprotective .Wall is provided.

Any suitable smoke stack 90 and ventilators 91 may be provided.

Gables-89 are {led through suitable apertures 93 in :the deck and thence to anysuitable means for operating ithem.

1 provide suitable platforms 19.4: to .facilitate inspectioirofthe revoluble cylinders 14-9.

Referring to Figs. .13 and .-L7, I provide cover .96 which unay be made in watertight connection with member 52 by means .of fasteningmembers 9.7. 96 isa suitablecover or door mounted. on pivot 100 and secured till .Water tight engagement by means of fastening members 97.

7 6 shown in Fig. 8 designates a suitable flooring for .the engine room, supportedon member 71. I may provideany suitable radia'lly disposed braces .53 as reinforcing members for members .51.

sReferringrto Fig.2,hook 4.0lis adapted to engage in any of the transverse bars 404 which I provide on the exterior surface of the revoluble .cylinders 49. This :device affords a means of rotating the cylinders in an emergency in zthe event tthat the usual ten circling cableis :dam aged and rendered :use- 1.00 :IBSQS.

,Referringzto Fig. .14., therudder R may be operated by asuitatile-chain or =.cable 14:06, disposed in achannel beneath or ;at'one side of the revoluble cylinders 29.

Referring to Fig. 15, I may provide 'protective :Walls 31 with lugs 408, or with =-pins 409 to secure it :in -a;stationary position.

I provideza suitable Water .pipearranged as shown in Fig. 'l?lZOEpG1'1TIlt of the pump 1:10 ing of water from the :bottom of revoluble cylinders 49 in the event water should :enter that :portion :of :the ship.

Figs. *11 and 112 illustrate my invention applied to .a ship approximately 548 feet 11:15

long, "(55;5 feet Wide and having a depth-o'f t2wfeet. Thedotted line .110- designates approximately the normal water line. The

d tted :line 108 designates approximately the inder 49 [may be :rotated so that the damyaged portion :69 will be uppermost, thus preventing Water from entering'and sinking the ship. Suitable pumps attached to pipe 109 unay be operated to remove any water that :has entered cylinder l9 prior to-its being rotated to the position shown in Fig. 12. In the latter position the revoluble cyl- :inders &9 are in a position where repairs e30 may be easily made by the ships mechanics. The amount of Water that will enter because of the torpedoing will be insuflicient to sink the ship or to seriously endanger her. Each set of Walls With the revoluble cylinders and accessory parts is removable. Removable sections of the deck should be provided to facilitate repairs.

What I claim is:

l. A ship having cargo-protecting cylinders revolubly mounted on a horizontal axis.

2. In a ship, the combination of a cargocarrying drum, a revoluble cylinder inclosing the drum and means for rotating the revoluble cylinder.

8. In a ship, the combination of a plurality of cargo-carrying drums, stationary outer drums, and revoluble cylinders spaced from and encircling the outer drums and means for revolving the cylinders on axes parallel With the keel.

4. In a ship, the combination of Water tight upright Walls, trunnions mounted in thewalls, protective revoluble cylinders revolubly mounted on the trunnions, protective stationary drums Within the revoluble cylinders, and inner stationary cargo-carrying drums Within the aforesaid stationary drums.

5. In combination With the device described in claim 4:, a pipe extending through the Water tight Wall, trunnions and stationary drums to the interior of the revoluble drum to permit of the pumping of water from that member.

6. In a ship, the combination of an engine room having protective Walls, and means for rotating said Walls.

7. In a ship, the combination of an engine room having a protective segmental Wall, and means for rotating said Wall.

8. In a ship, the combination of stationary cargo-carrying compartments supported from axial members, revoluble cylinders inclosing said compartment revolubly mounted on the aforesaid axial members, and means for revolving said cylinders.

9. In a ship, the combination of cargocarrying stationary drums, protective revoluble cylinders, transverse bars mounted on the circumferential portion of said cylinders, a cable having a hook attached to it, the hook being adapted to engage in the transverse bars mounted on the revoluble cylinders, and means for exerting power on the cable.

10. In a ship, the combination of a plurality of stationary cargo-carrying members protective covers spaced from and revolubly mounted over the cargo-carryingvmembers, means extending from the interior of the revoluble cylinders to the deck of the ship for pumping Water from the revoluble cylinders, an engine room having revoluble protective end plates, and means for operating the hereinbefore described revoluble members.

11. In a ship the combination of a cargo carrying drum supported from axial members, a cylinder revolubly mounted on the axial members to form a protected compartment, Water-tight Walls separating the aforesaid compartment from other portions of the ship, alined doors for the aforesaid members, means for revolving the revoluble cylinder, an engine room having revoluble protective covering members, and means for revolving said members.

12. In a ship, the combination of revoluble cylinders, stationary braced cargo-carrying drums mounted Within the revoluble cylinders, axial cylindrical members from Which the revoluble cylinders and the braced cargo carrying members are supported, reinforced Water-tight Walls intervening between and separating the cylinders from other portions of the ship, the aforesaid cylinders, drums and Walls being constructed in sections to facilitate repairs.

ROBERT W. VAIL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. 0. 

